WILLIMANTIC - In honor of first-grade teacher Victoria Soto who was killed Friday in Newtown's mass shooting while protecting her students at Sandy Hook Elementary School, will be honored by her alma through a scholarship fund.

Soto, 27, of Stratford, was a dean's list student while she attended Eastern Connecticut State University as an elementary education and history double major.

"Our faculty remembers Vicki as a joy to be with, an exemplary student who was committed to nurturing young lives," said Eastern President Elsa Núñez. "Her dream job was to teach children in the primary grades. She died protecting those children. She is being hailed throughout the world as a hero. We will never forget her."

In honor of her heroism, the University has created the Victoria Leigh Soto Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund to support Eastern students studying to be teachers who have unmet financial needs. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu/advancement/victoria_soto.html

To contribute online, donors can visit https://eweb.easternct.edu/wfbprod/bwakngft.P_Make_A_Donation2. After filling out the first screen, they will be directed to a second screen to select a designation for their gift. On the dropdown menu, they should choose "Victoria Leigh Soto Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund."